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Typhoid There were 322 notifications of typhoid fever in London in 1927 (52 weeks),
fever. as compared with 302 in 1926. The deaths in the calendar year numbered 30,
the mortality being lower than that recorded in any previous year in London. In
thirteen instances, two or more cases were notified from one house or institution.
Eight cases of paratyphoid B were notified from a training college in Westminster
in October, but inquiry failed to establish definitely the source of infection. Four
cases occurred in Bedford College, St. Marylebone, among a party of Canadian teachers
who had the use of the College during their visit. From the period of incubation
it was clear that they could not have been infected in London. All the cases were
mild. There was one instance of three cases in one house and ten of two cases. In
addition two concurrent staff cases occurred in each of three hospitals. Seven
fatal cases were not notified. Three of these occurred in mental hospitals situated
outside the County ; of the four remaining cases, three were diagnosed post-mortem,
and in the other case typhoid fever was entered on the death certificate as a
secondary cause of death.
Anthrax. Five cases of anthrax were notified in London during 1927, but two of these
were not confirmed. During the first week of January four cases of anthrax occurred
in connection with the Zoological Gardens. All of the patients, one of whom lived
outside of London, were men who had been engaged in handling the carcases of two
elephants which had died at the Zoo. The nature of the illness which caused the
death of the elephants was not recognised until after the men were infected, and
efforts, by the Zoo authorities, to trace the origin of the animals' infection were
unsuccessful. Owing to the prompt administration of anti-anthrax serum, all the
men had fairly mild attacks and recovered. A prophylactic dose of serum was also
given to 29 other persons who had been in contact with the carcases and no further
cases occurred.
Plague, No cases of plague, cholera or typhus fever occurred in London in 1927.
cholera and
Typhus fever
Cerebro- Ninety-five cases of cerebro-spinal fever were notified during the year, and in 10
spinal fever. cases the diagnosis was revised. Of the remaining 85 genuine cases, 51 (60 per cent.)
proved fatal. In addition, 22 fatal cases which had not been notified under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, were recorded in the Registrar-General's death
returns making a total of 73 fatal cases for the year.
Poliomyelitis Eighty-nine cases of poliomyelitis or polioencephalitis were notified during the
encephalitis. year, of which 81 were regarded as genuine. Of these 12 (15 per cent.) proved fatal.
In addition five fatal cases, which had not been notified, were discovered through
the medium of the Registrar-General's death returns. A report on the treatment
of children who are suffering from defects following poliomyelitis appears on page
154 of this report.
Encephalitis 149 cases of encephalitis lethargica were notified, of which 114 are regarded as
lethargies., genuine. Of these 49 (23 per cent.) had proved fatal up to 31st March, 1928. In
this connection it is impossible to show a true mortality for this disease as death
often does not take place until two, three or more years after the onset. In addition
to the notified cases, 23 deaths were recorded amongst non-notified cases.
A record of the deaths due to encephalitis lethargica during the period 1919-1926
was given in the annual report for 1926.